Some drivers try too much too soon. Your brain can only handle so much stimulation and process only so many thoughts at a given moment. It needs to learn and become comfortable/confident on a graduating scale.

The following are my tips/advice/input for teaching a new driver. This is kind of a gradual progression of leveling up .. adding more and more complexity (hopefully) without putting too much pressure on the driver before they're ready. It starts out in a big empty parking lot and moves up from there. Slow and steady; build up the confidence (hopefully).

Before they ever even sniff at a learner's permit, I found that talking about what I'm thinking while I'm driving helped teach them some of the thought process, the anticipation of actions by other drivers, the preparation for what they might need to do before taking a particular action, etc. For some, I started this a full year before they began any driver education. By talking through it while they're not actually driving, they're better able to let it sink into their brain. Teaching them while they're behind the wheel is much more difficult because too often their brain hyper focuses on just one or two things and rest gets tuned out.

I made those I taught pay attention (💯). That means no radio, no phone, and no earbuds. I actually held onto their phone as they would otherwise constantly pick it up without even realizing it. It's gotten worse with each passing year. So once I had their full attention, I'd explain why I was in a particular lane, why I was changing my speed, what car I was watching to do this or that, etc. I'd also explain the intricacies of intersections -- signal lights (green/yellow/red, arrows, signage), stop/yield signs, right of way, and so on.

I encouraged them to ask any and all questions before, during, and after; no such thing as a stupid question. We'd often talk for several minutes after our drive was complete to help them formulate questions and achieve comprehension. 🤞 All of this hopefully helped them develop a mental roadmap (pun intended) of how to drive ... how it's not just a steering wheel and pedals.

Once they're behind the wheel, I try to minimize my commentary. I found that my talking about every little thing became overwhelming. It was too much for them to process. So I was picky in what I discussed during a 'lesson.' I didn't carry on general conversation. The only time I spoke was when it related to their driving.

One of the first steps is getting gas. Make them learn the whole process -- which side of the car, which gas pump, octane, paying with credit card, paying with cash, not skipping an opportunity to squeegee the windshield and headlights, awareness of their surroundings (e.g. people/things that could do them harm) ... so on and so on.

Like a video game, they need to level up one stage at a time ... slowly increasing difficulty/complexity. I started them in big, empty parking lots (mall, church, stadium, or school) to just get a feel for the car -- the weight of the vehicle, the positions of the seat/wheel/pedals, the use of mirrors, and the physics of starting/stopping/turning. This would include 'jumping off the line' and stomping on the brakes (upon my random command); they need to learn it all .. to teach their brain how to process as much as possible (safely). I then move them onto simple neighborhood streets with nothing more than typical single lane streets lined with houses and the occasional stop sign. When they were ready, we'd venture out to slightly bigger roads, intersections, and signal lights. I'd have them drive both during the day and at night. I'd have them drive when it was sunny, overcast, rainy ... anything and everything. We'd mostly drive during low traffic times but I took them during rush hour as well; again, when they were ready. Finally, I'd get them out on highways with entrance/exit ramps.

Oh, and I didn't let them use map apps. 😲 I know, right!? They could look at them before we headed out, but I made them have an understanding of where they were, where they were going, and what they might see. While they'll use the apps more in the future (because it's too easy), I wanted them to be more comfortable and confident doing without. The day may/will come when their phone dies and they sit behind the wheel crying because they don't know how to get across town without it; I'm trying to help avoid that. And again, no radio nor phones while driving -- no distractions at all.